Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XI,
Arms Control and Disarmament

142. Editorial Note

A July 29, 1966, letter from Glenn T.
Seaborg, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, to
President Johnson requested
concurrence in plans for conducting underground tests of yields up to 6-7
megatons at temporary supplemental sites, involving explorations of the
following possible sites: (1) the Nellis Gunnery Range in Nevada adjacent to
the Nevada Test Site for yields near 2 megatons; (2) in Alaska, north of the
Brooks Range, or on the Island of Amchitka (6-7 megatons); (3) and other
higher yield sites outside the United States, possibly central Australia, or
on Christmas Island. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Subject File,
Nuclear Testing—General, Vol. I, Box 27)

An August 4 memorandum from Keeny to
Rostow transmitted for Rostow's signature a memorandum for the President
concerning a Bureau of the Budget recommendation that $25 million in fiscal
year 1967 funds be reprogrammed in connection with the Atomic Energy
Commission's proposal to develop alternate underground nuclear weapons test
sites. Keeny endorsed the Bureau of
the Budget proposal to reprogram funds “to initiate the new Nevada site and
to permit an initial unpublicized survey of Alaska for potential additional
sites” as “a very reasonable interim solution to this problem.” (Ibid.)

An August 8 memorandum from Rostow to Seaborg stated the President's approval of reprogramming of
$25 million of available funds for AEC use
in fiscal year 1967 “for initial development of the proposed Nevada site and
for an initial survey of possible sites in Alaska.” It required prior
clearance by the Alaskan Governor and Congressional delegation for the
Alaskan survey. The President did not approve the proposal to approach the
United Kingdom or Australia for the possible use of Christmas Island or
Australia as alternate test sites. No action was to be taken in this regard
without specific clearance by the Department of State and the White House.
(Ibid.)